Origin
Middletown, NJ
Late night in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middletown, NJ to Washington, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
62.5 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, NJ
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Middletown, NJ to Washington, NJ is 62.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via I 287, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, connecting two points within New Jersey. Expect a fairly direct journey with minimal deviations. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for activities at your destination. The route is focused on efficient travel between these two Northeast locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| NJ 35 | 14.2 mi | 21m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 12 mi | 13m |
| NJ 31 | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| NJ 440 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| New Monmouth Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kings Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 20.3 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, NJ and Washington, NJ.
1
Start on CR 50
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kings Highway
2
Turn left onto CR 50
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
New Monmouth Road
3
Turn left onto NJ 35
14 mi
·
21 min
·
NJ 35
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
420 ft
·
10 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 440
8
Merge onto NJ 440
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 287
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21B
Toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 78
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto NJ 31
11 mi
·
16 min
·
NJ 31
15
Turn left onto NJ 57
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
NJ 57
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from Middletown, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 51.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Sta...
8
14.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
7
15 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
8
37.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 21B
Toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
8
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.36 one way
$20.72 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.35 | $22.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.12 | $24.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Washington, NJ
Late night in Washington on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Somerset, NJ
31 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with a 94% share of its mileage on major arteries like I 287 and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20.3 miles on I 287. While the majority is highway, be aware that some sections, like NJ 35, might introduce slightly more local traffic as you approach your destination. Overall, anticipate a swift and efficient transit largely characterized by interstate driving.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and NJ 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, NJ and Washington, NJ, road signs point toward Perth Amboy, Staten Island, Pennsylvania and Flemington.
Perth Amboy
14.7 mi in
|
~22m
Staten Island
14.7 mi in
|
~22m
Pennsylvania
37.8 mi in
|
~50m
Flemington
51.2 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Washington, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Washington, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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